Would you buy a PC in 2023?

[CaptSensible]

Would I be crazy to buy a PC+ in September 2023?  Was looking for a good option to use with my various UAFX amp pedals.  But I have concerns given talk of them potentially being discontinued and just not regularly updated.

[rd2rk]

On 9/11/2023 at 10:55 AM, CaptSensible said:

Would I be crazy to buy a PC+ in September 2023?  Was looking for a good option to use with my various UAFX amp pedals.  But I have concerns given talk of them potentially being discontinued and just not regularly updated.

 

I'm sure you've seen my posts on TGP, so I'll just address the "crazy" aspect of your question.

 

EVERYTHING we use has an EOL after which it will no longer be supported by the mfr.

ANY modern electronics, especially if it contains a processor of any sort, may have a shelf-life in addition to its mfr's EOL date after which it can no longer be repaired.

L6's behavior as regards this product is as reprehensible as their support for Helix is exceptional.

 

The most important thing to keep in mind is that this product sounds GREAT to some people and utter garbage to others.

YMMV in the truest sense.

 

If money is tight, don't do it.

If you can get a used one at a reasonable price, go for it!

If you can get one new at a nearby store with a good returns policy, go for it!

 

I have the PC212+. Some days I love it, some days not so much.

I vacillate regarding getting a PC112+ to try again (I didn't like it first time around) so I'll have a more practical grab'n'go rig with my Helix.

 

Money's not (critically) tight.

There's a GC nearby.

I'm crazy.

 

 

[somebodyelse]

^What he said.

 

I did it the opposite way round - bought a 112+ and then got a 212+ a couple of years later - earlier this year, as it happens.

On both occasions, I got them when the store was doing an incredible deal on them, and I'm in the 'I love 'em' camp.

The lack of bug fix updates over the last couple of years is annoying, although I don't experience the issues with 'em that others have.

 

If/when a 'new improved' version is released I probably will trade them in, though I don't see me getting a 1x12 AND a 2x12, next time.

[PaulTBaker]

i have the 112+ then got a 212+ also.  the 212+ sounds better, but is heavier and with my back, that is important.  I do love the sound of both though.  I recently got the QSC 10 which is light and loud and sounds really good.  I have been using it at home (in between bedroom and jam room levels) paired with the 112+ cause the 212 is at our practice house.  I like the sound of the two of them together.  I have recently been using the QSC with StompXL as a quick carry on vacations or open mic nights.  it sounds great.

 

back to your question though, I agree there is a shelf life for everything.... and it usually happens right after I buy something :)   But hey, we also have a shelf life and whose to say which is longer.  So if it sounds good.... do it!

[rwandering]

I use a PC 112+ almost exclusively and am pretty happy with it.

 

I don't think it necessarily needs improvements, but there are bug(s) that rd2rk and others have been vocal about and it is beyond me why Line 6 hasn't addressed them.

 

In terms of a "new and improved" future version, who knows?  Due to the way Line 6 supports the PC, it can't be a money maker.  I suspect they think of it as a useful or necessary piece of a complete modelling offering.  I don't think it is going away, but -- barring bugs -- maybe they think it is good enough.  I mean, most people are using guitar amps or a straight PA anyway.  And with the latter case, does a "good" PA become dated?  (that is not a rhetorical question, I don't know the answer).

 

And, is there even a big market for this niche? 

[rd2rk]

On 10/6/2023 at 2:37 PM, rwandering said:

I use a PC 112+ almost exclusively and am pretty happy with it.

 

I don't think it necessarily needs improvements, but there are bug(s) that rd2rk and others have been vocal about and it is beyond me why Line 6 hasn't addressed them.

 

In terms of a "new and improved" future version, who knows?  Due to the way Line 6 supports the PC, it can't be a money maker.  I suspect they think of it as a useful or necessary piece of a complete modelling offering.  I don't think it is going away, but -- barring bugs -- maybe they think it is good enough.  I mean, most people are using guitar amps or a straight PA anyway.  And with the latter case, does a "good" PA become dated?  (that is not a rhetorical question, I don't know the answer).

 

And, is there even a big market for this niche? 

 

At this point I think they see it as a mistake they'd rather just forget about. "So long, and thanks for all the money!"

There's a good chance that, even if it's still selling, the new Fender FR12 could be its death knell.

If they would just do a final bug fix update then I could at least sell my PC212 in good conscience and MAYBE get a decent price for it.

OR it might then be good enough to keep.

Sadly, I expect that after my passing this thing will wind up at Goodwill with my worn out recliner.

[PaulTBaker]

and like your recliner, you would have gotten your use out of it!

[rwandering]

On 10/6/2023 at 1:56 PM, rd2rk said:

the new Fender FR12 could be its death knell

 

I do like the idea that the Fender has physical EQ knobs . . .

[rd2rk]

On 10/7/2023 at 10:11 PM, rwandering said:

 

I do like the idea that the Fender has physical EQ knobs . . .

 

BUT... you can't disable the HF driver to use just the speaker.

 

[Fuzzystump]

This is just my opinion, and I will say that I don't have near the experience some of the folks in here do.  

 

FWIW - I bought one new (PC112+) months ago ($691 after tax) and compared it directly with a Catalyst 100 for a few weeks.  Personally, I preferred the PC112 sound but it's not as versatile as the catalyst (new it was <$400 for me) so I ended up keeping the Catalyst and returned the PC112.  Fast forward many months, and I saw a PC112 pop up on FB Marketplace for $400, so I picked it up.  At this point not sure if I will keep it, and sell the Catalyst, keep them both, or re-sale the PC112. 

 

All that said, I think the PC112 will work well with any modeler now and in the future.  It's design is such that it's going to have more capabilities with Line 6 stuff, however.

[rd2rk]

On 10/8/2023 at 3:25 PM, Fuzzystump said:

All that said, I think the PC112 will work well with any modeler now and in the future.  It's design is such that it's going to have more capabilities with Line 6 stuff, however.

 

Always remember the +. The PC112+ and the PC112 are two different animals. But it's not so much the capabilities that using Helix adds, since there's nothing you can't do with the PC112+ and other modelers if you have a MIDI controller. It's about the convenience of doing those things being integrated into Helix vs requiring MIDI otherwise.

[mikeabbs67]

On 10/8/2023 at 1:24 AM, rd2rk said:

 

BUT... you can't disable the HF driver to use just the speaker.

 

You won't need to.  It sounds good out of the box.  Just turn it on and add some cut if you're gonna turn it up.   You don't have to mess with eq, hf driver balance or anything more complicated than the 4 knobs it comes with.

[rd2rk]

On 11/17/2023 at 9:27 AM, mikeabbs67 said:

You won't need to.  It sounds good out of the box.  Just turn it on and add some cut if you're gonna turn it up.   You don't have to mess with eq, hf driver balance or anything more complicated than the 4 knobs it comes with.

 

It sounds good out of the box TO YOU.

MAYBE the CUT control does the trick. Maybe the speaker on its own sounds awful and nobody would WANT to use it by itself.

The EQ controls are nice to have and may be very useful with modelers/AIAB boards that don't have Global EQ, and initial reports from early adopters are that the FR does sound very good. Time will tell concerning the "hiss" issue.

 

The point I'm making is that the PC has a lot of options the FR does not.

Not everybody wants all of those options and for them, the FR could well be the answer.

No objective BEST here, just what works best for each user.

[amsdenj]

I have Powercab112+ and Powercab212. I'm very happy with the functionality, tone and convenience. The 112+ is used on every gig. Like @rd2rk, I do prefer the flexibility as I use Flat/LF Raw mode most of the time and only user FRFR for acoustic tones. 

[PierM]

I was very tempted to buy two FR12 but the hiss is crazy! Reminds me the same hiss I had/have in the FH1500 coming from the HF driver.

 

Nope for me.

[pennybjeru]

On 10/6/2023 at 11:37 PM, rwandering said:

I use a PC 112+ almost exclusively and am pretty happy with it.

 

I don't think it necessarily needs improvements, but there are bug(s) that rd2rk and others have been vocal about and it is beyond me why Line 6 hasn't addressed them.

 

In terms of a "new and improved" future version, who knows?  Due to the way Line 6 supports the PC, it can't be a money maker.  I suspect they think of it as a useful or necessary piece of a complete modelling offering.  I don't think it is going away, but -- barring bugs -- maybe they think it is good enough.  I mean, most people are using guitar amps or a straight PA anyway.  And with the latter case, does a "good" PA become dated?  (that is not a rhetorical question, I don't know the answer).
Most likely, the PC 112+ remains in the Line 6 line as part of the overall offer for those who want to use a ready-made platform with their modeling processors. But I'm already moving away from this whole topic. First of all, I bought myself a PC to play games. Also, after I read about gambling on https://spins4win.com/ and discovered a new world, I got carried away with it. That is, I now have a PC only for entertainment. And now I work on a laptop.

 

And, is there even a big market for this niche? 

A PA system is simply a working tool, and its “obsolescence” often concerns only functional improvements.

[somebodyelse]

On 11/14/2024 at 6:50 PM, pennybjeru said:

A PA system is simply a working tool, and its “obsolescence” often concerns only functional improvements.

This really ^

A year on, mine sound the same, or maybe better? I have a year's more experience with 'em. They still do what I need 'em to do... the grass is always 'greener', but it's still just grass.

 

"The tones are in there, you just have to learn how to get 'em out"